Sheriff seeking information in year old death

By CAITLIN SULLIVAN/Staff

Credit the drought. It was, after all, the low water that helped sheriff’s deputies locate a coat and backpack connected to the death of John Wolfe Jr. a year ago.
A few weeks ago, someone spotted the jacket, which had belonged to Wolfe, near where the body was found in Laurel Creek, by Iron Horse Campground. An antique license plate was in the backpack, Sheriff Fred Newman said. Nothing was in the jacket.
Wolfe was declared missing Nov. 19, 2006, when his bike was found near mile marker 15 on the Creeper Trail. The night before, he had been on video at the Damascus Food City, wearing a military-style camouflage jacket and a dark backpack. He was buying a 12-pack of beer.
Newman said he thinks Wolfe must have put the 12-pack of beer in his backpack in order to ride his bike, but no beer was found in the backpack.
“There was foul play involved and the person or persons involved with his death took the beer and possibly some of his personal items,” Newman said. “(From the information gathered and as a result of the investigation) I think the person involved in his death knew the victim.”
Newman said Wolfe’s gloves and flashlight are still missing.
“There’s information out there that we need to know,” Newman said. “He met up or talked with people after leaving Food City.”
Newman said that people often don’t want to get involved with investigations even if they may have some information, especially in tight-knit communities like Damascus.
But Newman said that as far as he knows during his eight years as sheriff, no one has been harmed for providing his office with information.
“Sadly, it’s been a year since his death and we’re still unable to locate the individual(s) responsible for his death,” Newman said.
A reward is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person(s) responsible for Wolfe’s death.
To contact Caitlin Sullivan e-mail or call (276) 628-7101.